diff --git a/notmuch-mode.el b/notmuch-mode.el
index eec92044..450d4565 100644
--- a/notmuch-mode.el
+++ b/notmuch-mode.el
@@ -1,7 +1,16 @@
 ; A mode for running notmuch within emacs
 
+;;;###autoload
+(defun notmuch-search-mode ()
+  "Major mode for handling the output of notmuch search"
+  (interactive)
+  (kill-all-local-variables)
+  (setq major-mode 'notmuch-search-mode
+	mode-name "notmuch-search")
+  (setq buffer-read-only t))
+
 (defun notmuch ()
   "Run notmuch to display all mail with tag of 'inbox'"
   (interactive)
   (require 'compile)
-  (compilation-start "notmuch search tag:inbox"))
+  (compilation-start "notmuch search tag:inbox" 'notmuch-search-mode))